A judge in Washington, D.C., has ruled that President Donald Trump’s removal of Hampton Dellinger as head of the Office of Special Counsel was unlawful, ordering that Dellinger be reinstated. The ruling, handed down by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson on Saturday, puts the legal dispute on track for further appeals.
Trump dismissed Dellinger on February 7 as part of a broader effort to remove officials appointed by his predecessor. However, Dellinger challenged the decision, arguing that his position carried legal protections that prevented the president from firing him without cause. The law governing the Office of Special Counsel specifies that removal is only permitted in cases of misconduct or inefficiency.
Obama appointee and shameless Trump hater Judge Amy Berman Jackson last night issued the order we all expected–she declared the president's firing of Hampton Dellinger, head of Office of Special Counsel, was unlawful. (Reading thru her accompanying 67-page opinion now) pic.twitter.com/u21A2kAQQN
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) March 2, 2025
Jackson determined that Trump’s firing of Dellinger did not meet the legal standard, as the termination notice lacked any explanation. She ruled that the protections Congress established for the office must remain in place to ensure its independence, writing that lifting them would be inconsistent with the law’s intent.
🚨JUST IN: The Judge in the Hampton Dellinger case ruled that President Trump’s firing of him was illegal. She declared firing illegal, and ordered Dellinger be reinstated as Special Counsel.
SCOTUS had already ruled with the two dissenting justices arguing reinstatement is… pic.twitter.com/TMJZB8ObKO
— Walter Curt (@WCdispatch_) March 2, 2025
The judge ordered the Office of Management and Budget and the Treasury Department to recognize Dellinger’s authority and reinstate him. However, the ruling does not directly prevent Trump from pursuing further legal action.
Crooked Judge Amy Berman Jackson made the dumbest point in history about President Trump firing Hampton Dellinger, the crooked special counsel, "His actual job is to be a check and balance on the president."
Can someone remind this witch that the Executive Branch is checked by… pic.twitter.com/oQLNZIK1JM
— George (@BehizyTweets) February 26, 2025
The Trump administration has already taken the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The Supreme Court had been asked to intervene earlier but declined to do so until the lower courts issued their ruling.
This case adds to ongoing legal battles over presidential authority to remove officials appointed by previous administrations. The final outcome could set a precedent for similar disputes in the future.
